The municipality of Conchal (25,242 inhabitants in 2010; 18,383 ha) is
located in central western São Paulo State, 190 km of São Paulo.

Conchal was originally made of three estates named Nova Zelândia,
Ferraz and Leme. This territory was divided into two colonization
nuclei, Visconde de Indaiatuba and Conde de Parnaíba, by Decree No.
2,020 of 28 March 1911. The first directors of the nuclei were Antonio
de Queiroz Teles and Antonio Benedito de Oliveira Ferraz,
respectively. The inauguration of the railway station on 20 November
1913 boosted the development of the colonies, which were soon
emancipated as the district of Engenheiro Coelho, part of the
municipality of Mogi Mirim, by Law No. 1,275 of 20 December 1919.
In 1944, the local community was strongly divided into two factions,
the "araraenses" asking the transfer of the district from Mogi Mirim
to Araras, and the "mogianos" opposed to the transfer. The status quo
was preserved, while the struggle resumed through the rivalry between
the two football clubs, the "araraense" Associação Esportiva
Conchalense and the "mogiano" Conchal F.C. On 5 April 1948, the
leaders of the two factions met in Cinema Paratodos to set up a
compromise. In a plebiscite organized on 24 October 1948, the
inhabitants of Conchal approved the project of municipal emancipation.
The municipality of Conchal was established on 9 April 1949.

The local hero of Conchal is Valéria Melo Peris, elected "Miss Brazil"
on 12 April 1994 and "Nuestra Belleza Internacional" (Our Beauty
International) the same year. Local journalists compared her legs to
those of Cyd Charisse. Her marriage in 2009 with a local businessman,
Otair Guimaraes, was deemed "one of the smartest marriages of the year".
http://www.ovadiasaadia.com.br/printcolunistas.cfm?id=fMeqr&fatos

The flag of Conchal is yellow with a thin blue-white-blue cross and
saltire and the coat of arms inscribed in a white rectangle placed in
the middle of the flag.
The coat of arms, on the flag, represents the municipal government.
The cross and saltire represent the influence of the municipal power
all over the municipal territory.

The coat of arms is "Gules a Count's coronet and a Viscount coronet or
per pale a bordure azure eight scallops argent. The shield surmounted
by a six-towered mural crown argent. The shield supported dexter by a
branch of cotton and sinister by a branch of cassava. Below the shield
a scroll azure inscribed with the motto 'PAZ E PROSPERIDADE' [Peace
and Prosperity] in letters argent".
The Samnitic shield, of French origin, was the first style of shield
introduced to Portugal. Accordingly, it is used to evoke the early
colonists and builders of the Brazilian nation.
The six-towered mural crown represents a third-rank town, seat of a
municipality.
Gules (red) means audacity, intrepidity, courage, and valiance,
characteristic of the pioneers who settled the two nuclei of
colonization, Conde de Parnaíba and Visconde de Indaiatuba,
represented by a Count* and a Viscount**'s coronet, respectively.
The bordure is a symbol of protection, favour and reward offered to
those who support the leader - here the two nuclei - against the
enemy. Azure (blue) is a symbol of justice, nobleness, perseverance,
zeal and loyalty.
The shells ("conchas") make the arms canting. The shell is a symbol of
patience and contentment.
Cotton and cassava are the main crops growing on the fertile soil.

*Antônio de Queirós Teles, Count of Parnaíba (1831-1888) was a local
coffee grower, lawyer and politician. He served as the President of
São Paulo Province in 1886-1887 and promoted the colonization of the
hinterland of the State, presiding the Companhia de Estradas de Ferro
Mogiana railways (1873-1886). The railway was located close to river
Parnaíba, explaining the nobility titles of Baron (31 December 1880),
Viscount and Grandee ( 7 May 1887) and Count (3 December 1887).

**Joaquim Bonifácio do Amaral, Viscount of Indaiatuba (1815-1884) was
a local coffee grower and politician. A leader of Partido Liberal, he
served as Vice Governor of São Paulo Province. Abolitionist, he
introduced paid work in 1852 in the Sete Quedas Estate. He was made
Baron (16 February 1876) and Viscount (19 July 1979) of Indaiatuba.
The nobility title is linked to a municipality of the São Paulo State.
Ivan Sache, 3 November 2012